Lovely

Chapter 8

|Chapter 8|

I called Isabella first thing next day. She promised she'd be at my house as soon as she left with Becca, her guardian. Apparently she was having trouble with Becca letting her do what she wanted. I hadn't told her anything over the phone because it wasn't just something to blurt out. It had to be done in person and it had to be done correctly. 

"Heard what happened," Carson leaned against a nearby locker as I shoved my things inside. I glanced at him once before continuing. It's not that I was trying to be rude, but I didn't know how to respond. I was still feeling guilty. 

"They're keeping it hush hush up there," he pointed at the ceiling, but I knew he meant heaven. "You know it's not your fault, Nova."

"If it's so hush how'd you find out?" I asked, lifting a brow. My best friend smirked. 

"I'm one of a kind," he divulged, not truly answering the question. I decided to drop it and grabbed a book out my locker. "I meant what I said. It's not your fault, Nova. I just can't believe you shared your soul with him."

I gasped and slammed my locker abruptly. That information just surprised me, and I seemed to surprise Carson with my sudden outburst. 

"I'm sorry," I sighed and opened my locker again. My friend's warm eyes softened considerably. "You have to know I didn't know..."

"Of course you didn't know," he shook his head then rolled his eyes. "Paul never tells you anything."

"Paul never what?"

I turned around quickly to find Drew standing there. I smiled warmly at him, thankful that I didn't have to talk about the awkwardness that surrounded my situation with Ross and Paul anymore because of his presence. 

"Paul never listens to me," I answered. It wasn't a lie. 

"I still can't even believe we're friends with him," Drew replied honestly. I nodded thoughtfully. Never in a million years would I have imagined that Paul Montgomery was going to become as big apart of my life as Carson and Drew. Hell, I didn't know I'd start crushing on the boy. 

"I'm thinking of having a party at my house, though," Drew continued with a slick smile on his face. "There's a doctor conference my dad's going to. What do you say?"

I groaned while Carson let out a noise of satisfaction. They started going over the details excitedly when I butted in. 

"Last time you had a party I almost drowned," I glared at no one in particular, remembering the way Lisa tripped me. "And I was in my Shedd uniform."

"Well it's too cold for a pool party, first of all," Drew began. 

"...and you don't even work at the Shedd anymore," Carson finished. I rolled my eyes. 

"Thank you for the reminder," I turned to shut my locker closed. "But Lisa is still going to come because you're going to invite Simone and--"

"Nova," Drew shook my shoulders. "C'mon, please?"

I sighed and wanted to kick myself for agreeing, but I couldn't help it. I'd get to spend quality time with Drew, though, which was going to make up for all the lost time. The party became the sole topic of lunch as my best friends, and even Paul, got in on the planning. Holly even looked a little pumped about it which put a real damper on my mood. 

Naturally my thoughts drifted towards the well-being of my advisor and I got a weird feeling in my gut. I felt so guilty, not just for Ross, but for Elliot. Isabella was going to freak out when she heard the news because she was not okay with Elliot going there in the first place, and now he turns up possessed?